Sedalia in Guilford County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Alice Freeman Palmer Building
In front of you are the foundations of the Alice Freeman Palmer Building. The building was a testament to Dr. Brown's aspirations for the Palmer Memorial Institute. The grandeur of the building was as much an advertisement as a necessity. Built of brick, it was the first building on campus and in town to have indoor plumbing and electricity when it opened in 1922.
The Alice Freeman Palmer Building once served as the physical and symbolic heart of campus. Students began their day in the campus chapel and auditorium on the building's second floor. Most of their classes were held on the first floor. And at the end of the day, students could spend their study hour in the library on the third floor. Administrative offices were also housed in the building, including Dr. Brown's office in the northwest corner facing Canary Cottage.
[Captions:]
Left: An early photo of the school library on the third floor of the building | Right: The auditorium inside the biulding was called the Wellesley Auditorium.
Colorized postcard of the building, 1925.
The field behind the building was commonly used for picnics and field days.
Erected by NC
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 36° 4.047′ N, 79° 37.386′ W. Marker is in Sedalia, North Carolina, in Guilford County. It is on Burlington Road (U.S. 70) west of Palmer Farm Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6139 Burlington Rd, Gibsonville NC 27249, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont and specifically in Piedmont Triad. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance
Another marker is no longer nearby. Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1883 - 1961 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 23 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
